Spokane7
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Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, now says his controversial bills to make permanent cuts in laws governing school funding and teacher contracts may not be needed at all, what with big money coming Idaho’s way from the federal stimulus package. “It looks like Idaho could be in line for $160 million and some of that money could be available as soon as next week,” Nonini said. Some of the federal money is designed specifically “so teachers don’t get cuts in salary, teachers don’t get laid off and programs don’t get cut,” Nonini said. “We all thought it would be best to just not rush into the hearings.”
The stimulus money is “good news,” the House education chairman said. “We didn’t present this bill yesterday because we were mean-spirited or we were trying to get after anybody. Some things have changed just in the last few hours.” Idaho may end up not having to cut public schools at all, Nonini said. “That’s what we’re hoping - that’d definitely be the greatest thing, and that’s what it’s looking like.”
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teachum2 on February 15 at 2:54 p.m.
I am a teacher in Idaho. This is nothing short of a union-busting ploy - pure and simple. We were prepared to have frozen salaries and to work with our districts to make necessary sacrifices, but the attempt to grab any reassurance of a continuing contract went far beyond what was necessary to meet the budget crisis. They’ve tried it many times over the years in various guises, but this is the most blatant. It’s shameful. I was at the meeting with Saylor, Nonini and Goeddes. The atmosphere was highly charged and no one in the room believed a word they said about the bill not being punitive and mean-spirited and a union-busting attempt. Teachers in Idaho have suffered too many attacks from their legislators to trust them. Then to top it all off, Jim Hammond stood up and lectured everyone on how they just didn’t see the big picture! In the end, we also got a lecture from Nonini about how we would be held harmless because of the Federal Stimulus money and everyone else was going to suffer. They were insufferable! Mr. Saylor was better and even said he could not support the bill. His wife spoke very eloquently about the need to keep and attract excellent teachers and that these measures would kill the ability to do that.
I am very grateful that the Federal Stimulus money will stave off their attempts for this year and maybe next year. But I have no doubt that the Idaho legislature will try again to gut Idaho teachers’ collective bargaining rights. They have a long history of these attempts.
GaryIngram on February 16 at 3:13 p.m.
teachum2 - I was there, too. Not quite as you report. Your colleagues were very rude to the point of being abusive, very partisan, very unionist. On the other hand, the representatives were very patient, very polite very reasonable and well informed.
teachum2 on February 16 at 4:30 p.m.
Gary Ingram
As a former Republican Idaho State Legislator, I would expect your opinion to be somewhat biased.